Fisichella tells Renault to focus on 2008

The world champions are fourth overall with just nine points from three races, and they continue to work flat out to try to get to the bottom of their problems with their current car.

Fisichella reckons, however, that the team would do better by focusing on next year's car rather than try to make the R27 competitive.

The Roman driver, who had already ruled out fighting for victories in 2007, believes he will not be able to reach the podium this year.

"With the heir of the car which won everything in the last two seasons, I was aiming to win the championship. By contrast, here I am, suffering," Fisichella was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I can't see a chance to win a race: the aerodynamics are wrong. It's better to start working right away on the 2008 car, rather than waste time fixing a car born badly.

"The designers are working towards fixing it. In the session in Spain we tested a new front suspension to try to get close to the optimal weight distribution on the new Bridgestones. The car has improved: by a little bit, but I feel it better.

"Unfortunately rain prevented me from making more progress in the development: testing in the wet is useless. This Renault was born badly. Of course nothing can be ruled out in F1, not even winning with this car, but I don't think I'll be back on the podium in 2007."

Fisichella insists a lack of grip continues to be the car's main problem, but he believes they are getting closer to understanding the reasons and is adamant that Renault will not give up.

"The car behaves badly under braking, and in the quick sections the front tends to go wide," he added. "The same problem happens in slow and medium turns. We can't maintain an adequate speed. Just look at the gap: 1.5 seconds in the last GP. We didn't expect that.

"However, we're starting to understand something important. Like Ferrari and McLaren, we too worked on an airport straight, before testing at Montmelo.

"On the front we have a new suspension: it should be enough to make some difference. Maybe some other things will come between tests and races. The car was born badly, we're struggling, but we're not giving up."